The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine for use in adolescents aged 12 to 17, a group considered particularly vulnerable to the disease. This decision follows the WHO’s endorsement of the vaccine for adults in September, which facilitated access for African countries heavily impacted by mpox. Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic is also preparing to conduct a clinical trial to assess the vaccine’s safety for children aged 2 to 12. As parts of Africa face a rise in mpox cases, which present flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, the urgency for vaccination has increased. In August, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency after a new strain of the virus spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi and Rwanda. Scientists have identified this new strain, known as clade 1b, as a more dangerous variant. Nearly 30,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported across Africa this year, with a few cases also recorded in Europe and Asia.

After Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease on September 27, the country’s Minister of Health reassured attendees at a briefing that the situation is under control. During a meeting with diplomats and development partners, Minister Nsanzimana discussed the vaccination strategies being implemented to combat the disease. Last week, Rwanda received 700 doses of an experimental vaccine, which has been administered to healthcare professionals and those who have been in contact with confirmed cases. “We were informed that the vaccines were available. We viewed it as a great opportunity to enhance our immune systems,” said Augustin Sendegeya, Chief Medical Officer at King Faisal Hospital. Despite the vaccine being in trial stages, Sendegeya expressed confidence in its safety and potential value for those at risk of infection. Some doctors have reported no significant side effects from the vaccine. “I didn’t observe any major reactions; those who were vaccinated yesterday experienced few symptoms,” noted Blaise Dushimiyimana, a gynecologist at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali. So far, more than 200 people in the country have received the vaccine. Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness in humans, and Rwanda has reported 13 deaths related to the outbreak since it was announced.

Flash floods have wreaked havoc in Jonglei State, South Sudan, leaving hundreds of families without shelter and access to clean water, according to a United Nations report on Monday. Intense rainfall in Bor town has displaced around 375 households across four areas of the state capital. Residents are enduring severe conditions, lacking basic necessities and medical care. Maper Kuot Akuei, a community leader in Bor, voiced his concerns about contaminated floodwater, which has contributed to the spread of diseases such as malaria and pneumonia. “The water is contaminated, bringing malaria, pneumonia, and other hidden diseases,” Akuei said. “There’s no medicine in the hospital; only the clinic can help us, but if you don’t have money, you can’t get treated.” Akuei highlighted the tragic toll on the community, reporting that children have died, women have miscarried, and the elderly have succumbed, largely due to the government’s inaction. As conditions deteriorate, frustration is mounting among flood victims, who are urgently calling for government and international assistance to meet their pressing health and humanitarian needs. Without prompt intervention, the crisis in Jonglei State is poised to worsen further.

Shocking reports reveal horrific conditions faced by migrants in Tunisia, including human rights violations during rescue operations and forced transfers to dangerous border areas.

Chad’s online media association has expressed concerns over new government restrictions on media operations just two months before the upcoming elections.

Kenya is relocating 100 elephants from Mwea National Reserve to Aberdare National Park due to overpopulation.

President Ramaphosa demands a global response to stop Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, stressing the need for a cease-fire, humanitarian aid, and justice for Palestinian casualties.

Deadly protests erupted in eastern Guinea against a Chinese mining company, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to four others.

The plan aims to increase energy independence, reduce the budget deficit, and improve governance.

The investigation will focus on the responsibility of all parties involved, including the Rwanda Defence Forces and the M23 rebel group.

An extraordinary amphibian possesses a survival trait that rivals the abilities of any comic book superhero

New Standard Gauge Railway aims to boost regional trade, connect Uganda to Indian Ocean ports

Zambia is grappling with a climate-related energy crisis that has severely diminished its power supply. Frustrated residents are even transporting their entire desktop computers to local cafes to work. The country is experiencing unprecedented electricity blackouts due to a severe drought that has left the Kariba dam, the source of much of its power, with critically low water levels. This massive dam, built in the 1950s, was intended to provide a sustainable source of hydroelectric power by harnessing the Zambezi River. However, prolonged drought conditions, worsened by the El Niño weather pattern and rising temperatures, have pushed Zambia’s hydroelectric capacity to the brink of collapse. Currently, only one of the six turbines at the dam can operate, generating less than 10% of its normal output. With over 80% of Zambia’s electricity coming from Kariba, residents often experience just a few hours of power each day, and some areas go days without any electricity. The situation is particularly detrimental to small businesses, which struggle to operate during daylight hours. Tindor Sikunyongana, who runs a welding business, expressed his frustration, noting that his generator ran out of diesel while he was speaking. He has tried to mitigate the impact by investing in a diesel generator, but the cost of fuel is often prohibitive. Experts warn that Zambia’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric power has left it vulnerable. Geoffrey Chiyumbe, Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee at the Engineering Institute of Zambia, noted the risks of depending on hydro for 85% of the energy supply and emphasized the need for a more diverse energy mix to prevent crises like the current one. At the Kariba dam, the 128-meter-high wall is nearly exposed, with a reddish-brown stain marking where the water once flowed in better times over a decade ago.

Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s first Minister of Labour after the end of Apartheid, has passed away at the age of 65. Local media reported that he died on Saturday night (Oct. 12) in a Johannesburg hospital, surrounded by loved ones, after a short illness. Mboweni was a prominent anti-Apartheid activist and served as Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 in the Cabinet of founding President Nelson Mandela. Following this, he held the position of Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a decade, starting in 1999. He also served as Minister of Finance during the first term of current President Cyril Ramaphosa. In a statement released on Saturday (Oct. 11), President Ramaphosa praised Mboweni as “a leader and compatriot who has served our nation as an activist, economic policy innovator, and champion of labour rights.” He expressed shock at Mboweni’s passing, noting, “Given his vitality and engaging spirit, Dr. Mboweni’s loss at 65 is deeply felt.”

In Chad, the opposition has called for a boycott of the parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled for December 29. According to local media reports, 15 opposition political groups gathered in the capital, N’Djamena, under the slogan “No to Special and Anti-Democratic Elections.” Max Kemkoye, the leader of the Union for Democracy and Progress Party, stated that despite the opposition’s repeated calls for respect for democratic rules, freedoms, and human rights, the current government has not changed its methods. Kemkoye emphasized the need for an updated and reliable voter registry, the neutrality of electoral institutions, and guarantees of equality to ensure election security. He expressed concerns that the upcoming elections would not be free and fair, urging the public to boycott them. The call for a boycott comes amid a transitional period following the death of President Idris Déby Itno, who was killed in combat against the separatist group “Front for Change and Concord in Chad” (FACT) on April 20, 2021. His son, Mahamat Idris Déby Itno, was appointed head of the Military Transitional Council composed of 15 generals shortly thereafter. Mahamat Déby promised an 18-month transition period leading to elections, with a transfer of power to civilians and a commitment not to run for office. However, during the National Dialogue Forum held on October 9, 2022, the transition period was extended by two years, and Déby was allowed to run in the elections planned for 2024. Mahamat Idris Déby Itno was elected president on May 6, receiving 61% of the vote. The parliamentary and municipal elections, the first since 2011, are set to take place on December 29.

 Fifteen members of the Boko Haram terrorist group surrendered to the Nigerian army on Sunday, the West African nation’s military announced. A statement from the Nigerian army said it conducted an operation in the Aguata region of northeastern Borno State against Boko Haram. The statement indicated that 15 members of the group surrendered during the operation and that their camp was destroyed. Boko Haram, which has been active since the early 2000s, has carried out mass violence since 2009, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Since 2015, the group has also conducted attacks in neighboring countries Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

The Turkish Coast Guard on Sunday rescued a total of 28 irregular migrants forced back into the country’s territorial waters by Greek forces in the Aegean Sea. In the first of two successful rescue operations off the country’s Aegean shores, the Coast Guard Command said on its website that 14 migrants, including four children, were saved from a rubber boat off the district of Dikili in Izmir province. The other operation took place off the coast of Datca district in the province of Mugla, resulting in the rescue of an additional 14 migrants, among them seven children, from a lifeboat. All migrants were transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for further processing. Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers wanting to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution. Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Comoros will move forward with parliamentary elections on January 12 as President Azali Assoumani continues to face criticism from his opponents.

Both patients are recovering and contact tracing is underway.

A mass shooting in South Africa left seven people dead, including five family members, during a dowry celebration.

The EU is facing criticism for its inability to reclaim funds paid to Tunisia, where allegations of human rights abuses, including sexual violence against migrants, have surfaced.

Ethiopia’s premier calls upon non-signatories to join ‘Nile Family’ to foster equitable use of Nile River across basin countries

Train accident in Minya prompts emergency response, no fatalities reported

Seen from space, this annual journey underscores the unbreakable bond between these animals